[This post is from Bryant Tapping’s point of view.]
“What do you mean, David?” Isabelle asked softly. “You’re not—”
“Making sense?” he shook his head, smiling weakly. “I guess not, but then do I ever?”
“More often than you don’t,” Bryant said. He was still watching Lin and Tory, watching their expressions, trying to gauge their reaction to David’s murmured words. The fact that Lin was smiling was something he couldn’t quite sort out—he wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or something that should worry him even more than he already was.
Take it as a good sign. You don’t need to borrow more trouble than you’re already trying to deal with—no more problems than what you’re already facing. He barely managed to suppress the urge to rub his temple as if a headache was coming on—one wasn’t, not yet, but it was quite possibly only a matter of time.
Maybe it won’t be this time.
“I’m going to pretend that either makes sense or isn’t important,” Tory said slowly, relinquishing David’s hand but not moving away. “But I’m guessing it’s part of why you’re here.”
“Perceptive,” David said, reaching to rub his eyes. “It’s something like that. There’s—it’s complicated. That’s the short version.”
“And the long one?”
David gave him a watery smile. “You might want to sit down for that.”
Tory glanced at Lin, who shrugged slightly. Then he smiled faintly and pulled up a chair.
“Okay,” Tory said. “Let’s go.”
